Germany's Black Forest: a popular holiday destination

The people of the Black Forest boast that they had the world's first ski lift in 1908. Now, there are 52 ski lifts and 17 ski and snowboard schools. With 20 kilometer slopes for sledding and more than 330 km of tracks, wintertime in Black Forest is a wonderland for adults and children.

"Experience unspoiled nature on a snowshoe trek, speed down the slopes on a sled, take a walk in the snow-covered countryside, and storm the highest peaks on skis or snowboards," Burghardt says.

A white winter forest and the impressive mountains of the Black Forest, has led to the resurrection of traditional snowshoeing. Snowshoeing, a type of shoe that distributes the weight of the foot over a larger area, is a traditional way of moving through the winter landscape of the Black Forest.

"Today's snowshoes are made from modern materials and also have flexible bindings. Once you're fixed to the snowshoes, off you go!" Burghardt says.

Staying in the Black Forest is an also a special experience, and there are many European boutique hotels in the area.

Many hotels in the forest are in well-preserved historical houses with elaborate decorations and are surrounded by Germany's breathtaking forest scenery.

"Germans are very proud of preserving the historical sites as well as the nature. That is why our hotel only has 56 rooms, but never, expands its scale, even if the rooms are reserved all year round," says Olaf Galaburda, general director of Parkhotel Adler, a five star hotel in the Black Forest.

The hotel has been owned by the same family since the 15th century. It is near Hinterzarten in the southern region of the Black Forest. Nestled in ten acres of private picturesque parkland, the hotel is also famous for the various buildings that have been built throughout the ages and are connected by underground passageways.

Behind its impressive exterior lies a variety of interesting public rooms each with its own unique atmosphere yet united by strong and purposeful design. The dining areas and bars are decorated with a different style.

However, the old wooden roof has never been changed, even though it is so low that a tall person can almost touch their head on the ceiling. Colorful paintings and ceramic stoves built hundreds of years ago are still on display in the hotel.